Secrets of Success

Please note these are member-submitted secrets and are not reviewed by SparkPeople's health experts for accuracy. If you feel a secret is inappropriate, please click the "Report Inappropriate Secret" on the secret's page and our staff will review it.

I try to grow as much of my own food as possible - even if it's only a little patch of onion and herbs. Going out to harvest what I need gets me moving, into some fresh air, and is relaxing. And it's so much more convenient than running to the store!

To get over the plateau and keep your metabolism reved up.its good to do low calories for 5 days and then 2 days a week increase your calorie intake by like 500 and then decrease it on your other days, so never let your metabolism adjust! This is a secret athletes use all the time!

I keep a chain of paper clips next to my computer monitor at work. Each paper clip represents one pound lost. They are always front and center to help keep me motivated. I remember to say "No thank you" to the office doughnuts.

This activates the left side of the brain, signaling the nervous system to produce mood-boosting serotonin and dopamine, Universtiy of Miami researchers report. It also reduces production of the stress hormone cortisol, resulting in a better mood in less than five minutes.

This works for Japanese beetles too. Go out a couple of days with a container of soapy water. Flick all the seen beetles into the water. This is the key kill the ones there directly by HAND. Then spray the plant with a solution of fresh crushed garlic and water which has sat overnight, repeat if you need to. It is working in my garden!Try an organic bug killer too if you like.

Eat from mostly the perimeter of the store. Pay attention the next time you are at the grocery store. Most of your healthy foods are around the edges of the store......produce, dairy, seafood, meats. All the heavy carbs are in the aisles. (Candy, cookies, chips, dressings, gravy's, pastas, crackers, etc.)

Whenever I have something unpleasant or unwanted to do, I just remind myself to "eat the frog." If you were to start each day by eating a frog, nothing any worse could happen to you during that day. So when you are dreading something, just go ahead and eat the frog (get that task out of the way)! Things will be looking up after that for sure!

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